Long lines at gas stations are forming as Florida residents prepare for Hurricane Irma

As the communities in Texas and Louisiana continue their long road to recovery after the devastation left behind by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma continues her approach and is already impacting the Caribbean.

Her affect on the U.S. is still not certain but a state of emergency has already been issued in Florida, including evacuations in the Florida Keys and parts of South Florida. Other state residents have cleared their local grocer’s stock of bottled water and topped off their gas tanks. Businesses, schools, and hospitals—especially organizations responsible for large workforces, student bodies or patients—are closely monitoring the situation as they prepare for a potential landfall. Even the National Football League is having to postpone the start of the season in Miami.

As an organization chooses to prepare for a hurricane, we know they will do what is best for their people before, during and after the storm. If you are currently in Irma’s potential path, you can visit FEMA's website for safety and storm prep tips. And, while the nation’s attention has turned to this new threat, the impacted areas of Texas and Louisiana still need support. FEMA is also a great resource to learn the best ways you can help.

Keeping informed and prepared during severe weather:

During these times, accurate and timely weather forecasts are vital, especially as the path of a hurricane can change at any moment. Disseminating weather updates and warnings are critical components for any campus, facility or organization’s overall emergency preparedness plan. These warnings and alerts keep an organization informed and help them provide faster lead times for timely evacuations or sheltering in the event of an approaching hurricane or blizzard, or a sudden weather event like a tornado.

Both, volunteers and rescue workers alike are doing anything they can to repair devastation left behind by Hurricane Irma